March 28, 2024

Defensive miscues plague Newton softball in loss to No. 2 DCG

DALLAS CENTER — Three errors were enough to doom Newton’s softball team against Class 4A No. 2 Dallas Center-Grimes on Monday.

The Cardinals scored first but allowed five runs in the third inning and four more in the fourth during a 10-4 road loss to the Mustangs in Little Hawkeye Conference action.

“We need to cut down on the mistakes,” Newton softball coach Kory Leiker said. “If you give these type of teams extra outs they will make you pay.”

Four of the seven Cardinal hits were collected by the two most veteran players on the team in Chassidy Henwood and Kya Butler.

Both Henwood and Butler had two hits each, one double and one RBI.

Jazlynn Cooper, Kadance Ahn and Hailey Sumpter collected the other three hits. Cooper scored a run and Ahn had one RBI.

Taylor Lust returned from injury, made her first start of the season in right field, was hit by a pitch and scored one run.

Vanessa Vasseau scored two runs and Nevara Gray and Maggie Garrett each walked once.

“I felt like we did hit the ball much better and was able to get an early lead,” Leiker said. “As soon as we fix some of our minor flaws we will get back in the win column.”

Gray started in the circle and took the loss after allowing nine runs — seven earned — on seven hits with two strikeouts, two walks and one hit batter in 3 1/3 innings.

Sumpter spun it for 2 2/3 innings. She allowed one unearned run on four hits.

DCG (11-9, 7-2) has won four straight games. Newton fell to 8-9 overall and 2-7 in the LHC.

“You can’t expect major changes overnight,” Leiker said. “These girls are getting better every day. We are learning from our losses and we will be better because of them. Good things are around the corner for this team.”